30 Mar Hunts Cider Completes Major Sustainability and Production Expansion in South Devon
Family-run cider producers Hunts Cider, who have been handcrafting cider since 1805, are proud to announce the completion of a significant expansion project at their Grove Orchard site on the edge of Stoke Gabriel.
Led by 8th generation cider makers Richard and Annette Hunt, the project has been supported by funding from DEFRA through the Farming Transformation Fund. A total of £240,000 was awarded to support the development of a brand new, purpose-built bottling and kegging facility.
This investment marks a major milestone for Hunts Cider, enabling the business to bring its entire production process in-house. From growing apples to pressing, fermenting, and now packaging, every stage of cider production can now be completed within the orchard—significantly reducing the company’s carbon footprint and improving operational efficiency.
The new facility also provides contract bottling and kegging services, as well as white label cider production for other cider makers. This offering fills a vital gap in South Devon, a region known for its rich heritage of independent cider producers.
In addition to the Farming Transformation Fund support, Hunts Cider also secured funding through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme. This funding has enabled enhancements to hedgerows to support pollinators, the installation of mixing tanks to encourage the use of apples from small traditional orchards within the National Landscape, and the acquisition of essential orchard management equipment including an apple harvester, mower, and trailer.
“Creating a whole system approach has been fundamental to improving our sustainability and giving us more stability in an ever-changing world,” said Richard Hunt during the official opening event held onsite in March.
The launch event welcomed over 150 guests, celebrating not only the completion of the new facility but also Hunts Cider’s continued commitment to innovation, sustainability, and supporting the wider cider-making community.
